Independent participatory media for Iran

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the jailed Iranian lawyer who has been on a hunger strike for the past two weeks, has been denied visitation rights for three weeks.

The Kaleme website reports that the prison’s disciplinary council told Sotoudeh and her family that there will be no visits allowed for the jailed lawyer in the next three weeks with no reason given.

Sotoudeh began to refuse food two weeks ago in protest against her treatment in prison and especially because of severe restrictions put on her visits with her family.

Her husband has told the media that the authorities are ignoring her demands and refusing to take any steps to encourage her to end her hunger strike.

Among her demands is the right to in-person visits with her family, which her husband Reza Khanadan says could help them better try to convince her to begin eating again.

Khanadan also reports that Sotoudeh’s appearance during their last visit revealed severe weight loss, and he expressed grave concern that his wife may reach a point of no return in terms of her health.

The jailed human rights lawyer is serving a six-year jail term for her connection with the Defenders of Human Rights Centre and is barred from practicing law for 10 years.